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The Austin Police Department has long sought an automated system that scans license plates on the road and alerts officers when it spots plates associated with a stolen car. Secure devices can be mounted on police patrol cars, trailers and roadside structures. Opponents have raised concerns about potential invasion of privacy and the possible use of the technology to find people wanted on warrants, but Austin Police said they do not intend to use the devices that way.

The equipment will be provided under a $350,000 one-year contract with General Services Administration, with options to renew the contract up to five years for $110,000 per year.

As part of a slate of council appointments to advisory boards, Council Member Sheri Gallo asked to remove Alison Alter, the person she had previously nominated for the parks board. Alter had signaled her intentions to challenge Gallo in the next council election and declined to resign. "It would be difficult for her to represent both me and the District 10 Office in good faith while actively campaigning against me," Gallo said in a statement.

Council Member Don Zimmerman, whose far northwest Austin district is the only one with a field office, proposed this three-month pilot program allowing the public to offer comment at council meetings via videoconferencing from a council member's district office.